US3395959A

US3395959A - Collapsible combination cabinet and work platform

Info

Publication number: US3395959A
Application number: US616566A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph B White
Original assignee: Ralph B. White
Current assignee: RALPH B WHITE
Priority date: 1967-02-16
Filing date: 1967-02-16
Publication date: 1968-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-06

Description

Aug. 1958 R. B. WHITE 3,395,959

COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION CABINET AND WORK PLATFORM Filed Feb. 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RALPH B. WHITE BYW WQ QM M ATTORNEYS 6, 1968 R. B. WHITE 3,395,959

COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION CABINET AND WORK PLATFORM Filed Feb. 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH B. WHITE BY Y/w Q, w. M

ATTORNEYS Unit 3,395,959 CQLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION CABINET AND WORK PLATFORM Ralph B. White, 2526 Castle Drive, Fort Wayne, ind. 46806 Filed Feb. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 616,566 it Claims. (Cl. 312-317) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to a collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform, and more particularly to a sewing center which is collapsible into a compact cabinet unit when it is not being used.

It is conventional in the art of sewing to provide sewing machines having storage compartments as well as a work platform. However, the prior art devices have the disadvantages that the storage spaces are not always large enough to accommodate the usual supplies, accessories and equipment used in conjunction with the sewing machine and the work platform, which is level with the sewing machine surface, is not always large enough to accommodate large pieces of cloth. Usually, in such devices, the sewing machine and the work platform associated therewith utilize a large portion ofv the available space and the balance of the space is utilized for storage. The present invention overcomes certain of these disadvantages by providing a combination cabinet and work platform. The cabinet and work platform of the present invention are cooperatively associated in such a manner that the required capabilities of each is not sacrificed to accommodate the other. Yet, the cabinet and work platform of the present invention are collapsible into a compact, attractive piece of furniture which adds to, rather than detracts from, room decor.

The storage space provided by the present invention is readily accessible at all times. The work platform of the present invention is accessible when the platform is extended from the cabinet, and is sufficiently elevated to provide adequate leg room for an operator using the machine. The available work surface of the work platform is effectively increased by a top which is hingedly mounted and congruently superposed over the platform and arranged to be folded back over and supported by the cabinet structure when the work platform is extended. The total work surface obtainable with the combination cabinet and work platform of the present invention is, therefore, substantially twice that of the extendible platform.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform which may be easily collapsed into a compact unit for storage and alternatively convertible into a working surface and conveniently accessible storage compartments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform comprising a cabinet structure having a laterally extendible platform mounted thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro- States Patent 0 "ice vide such a cabinet and work platform including a top hingedly mounted and congruently superposed over the platform and arranged to be folded back over and supported by the cabinet structure to provide a work surface extending from and level with the work surface of the platform.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the broader aspects of the invention there is provided a collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform comprising a base having a laterally extendible frame mounted thereon. The frame is supported at one end by a downwardly extending support means and at the other end by the base. A top is mounted on the frame. The top has two portions hingedly connected together. One of the top portions is arranged to be superposed on the other when the frame is in a collapsed position and to be folded over the base when the frame is in an extended position. The base has means for supporting the top when it is folded over the base, thereby providing a laterally extendible and substantially continuous work surface.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform of the present invention showing the platform collapsed into the base structure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet and work platform of the present invention showing the platform extended to its outermost position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cabinet and work platform of the present invention showing the work platform extended to its outermost position, the top of said Work platform folded back over said cabinet and supported thereon and a sewing machine operatively arranged on the work platform;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner post of the cabinet showing a cut-out therein for receiving a roller, which movably supports the work platform, when said platform is collapsed into the cabinet structure; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a support leg of the work platform against the corner post of the cabinet and the roller supporting the work platform disposed in a cut-out of the corner post, such as the cut-out shown in FIG. 4.

Generally speaking, the present invention is a collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform which comprises a base having a laterally extendible platform mounted thereon. The laterally extendible platform is supported at one end by downwardly extending support means and at the other end by the base. A top is hingedly mounted and congruently superposed over the platform and arranged to fold back over the base when the platform is in its outermost position, thereby providing a work surface extending from and level with the work surface of the platform. Means extending upwardly from the base are provided for supporting the top when it is folded back thereover. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the extendible platform is movably supported on the base by a plurality of rollers which are cooperatively associated with guide means mounted on the base. Also, storage means are provided in the base under the laterally extendible platform.

Referring now to the drawings, an illustrative structure of the present invention can be visualized in conjunction with the following description.

The collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform of the present invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown collapsed in FIG. 1 and extended in FIGS. 2 and 3. The invention is shown as being embodied in a sewing center and, therefore, a sewing machine 16 is shown operatively arranged on the work platform in FIG. 3.

The invention comprises a base structure having first and second side walls 11 and 12, front and

rear walls

13 and 14, and a laterally extendible platform, indicated generally by the reference numeral 15, providing a top for the base structure.

A pair of

drawers

17 and 18 is disposed in the base structure as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The

drawers

17 and 18 are extendible from the front wall 13 of the base structure. Of course, the

drawers

17 and 18 are only illustrative and other means could be provided for utilizing the storage space defined by the side walls 11 and 12, front and

rear walls

13 and 14 and the platform 15.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the platform 15 is laterally extendible in the direction of the arrow indicated by the reference numeral 17 When the platform 15 is extended to its outermost position, it is supported at one end by a pair of

support legs

18 and 19 and at the other end by the base structure. In the illustrative embodiment, the platform 15 is movably supported on four rollers, indicated by the

reference numerals

20, 21, 22 and 23. The

rollers

20 and 21 are journalled on the platform 15 and arranged to move on a pair of guides 24, shown in FIG. 2. The guides 24 are arranged to extend horizontally along the top portion of the front and

rear walls

13 and 14, respectively. The

rollers

22 and 23 are journalled at the lowermost portion of the support legs 18' and 19 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

There is a top 25 hingedly mounted and congruently superposed over the platform 15 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The hinges connecting the top 25 to the platform 15 are indicated by the reference numeral 26. The top 25 is arranged to fold back over the base structure when the platform 15 is in its outermost position to provide a work surface extending from the platform 15 which is level with a work surface, indicated by the reference numeral 27, of the platform. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the top 25 is supported by upwardly extending portions 28 of the side wall 11 when the top is folded back over the base structure 10.

In the illustrative embodiment, the platform 15 has a depth, indicated by the reference numeral 29 in FIG. 2, suflicient to receive the sewing machine 16 when it is folded down into the platform as is conventional in the I sewing machine art. Obviously, the sewing machine 16 must be folded down into the platform 15 before the top 25 can be folded back onto the platform. A cavity for receiving the sewing machine 16 must be provided in the platform 15.

The total work surface including the surface 27 of the platform 15 and the surface of the top 25 is substantially twice the width of the collapsed, combination cabinet and Work platform 10. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the total work surface is substantially level with the surface, indicated by the reference numeral 30, of the sewing machine 16. Supporting the top 25 by the extensions 28, as shown in FIG. 3, provides a stable work surface which is capable of supporting rather heavy loads placed thereon. In prior art devices, the fold-over tops, similar to the top 25, have usually been suspended as a cantilever by hinges and, after a certain period of usage, either the screws holding the hinges come out or the hinges bend, thereby permitting the top to sag downwardly.

The false front 31 of the platform 15 can be omitted entirely or made a part of the cabinet structure.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shows four corner legs or posts 32 for supporting the combination cabinet and work platform 10, it can readily be seen that the posts 32 are optional and that the side walls 11 and 12 and front and

rear walls

13 and 14 can support the combination cabinet and work platform 10.

When the combination cabinet and work platform is collapsed as shown in FIG. 1, the support legs 18' and 19 are directly adjacent to the side wall 12. Thus, the collapsed, combination cabinet and work platform is a compact and attractive piece of furniture. In accordance with the conventional practice, the combination cabinet work platform 10 will be constructed from a fine grade of wood to further add to its attractiveness.

When the combination cabinet and work platform is collapsed as shown in FIG. 1, the

rollers

22 and 23 are received in cut-outs, such as the cut-out 33 shown in the post 32 in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a view showing the roller 23 received in the cut-out 33 when the support leg 19 is directly against the post 32. Of course, the

rollers

20 and 21 are not visible at any time.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform comprising a base having a laterally extendible frame mounted thereon, said frame being supported at one end by downwardly extending support means and at the other end by said base, a top mounted on said frame, said top having two portions hingedly connected together, one of said top portions being arranged to be superposed on the other of said top portions when said frame is in a collapsed position and to be folded over said base when said frame is in an extended position thereby providing a laterally extendible substantially continuous Work surface, said frame when extended defining a kneehole, and means extending upwar-dy from said base for supporting said top when it is folded over said base.

2. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform as in claim 1 wherein said frame is movably supported on said base by a plurality of rollers,

said rollers being cooperatively associated with guide means mounted on said base.

3. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work frame as in claim 1 including storage means disposed in said base under said laterally extendible platform.

4. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform as in claim 3 wherein said storage means comprises at least one drawer arranged for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said platform.

5. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform comprising a base having first and second side walls, front and rear walls, and a laterally extendible frame having an upwardly facing work surface, means for supporting a first end of said frame when said platform is in an extended position, the second end of said frame being supported by said base when said frame is in said extended position, said support means being carried by said frame and arranged to be in juxtaposition to said first side wall when said frame is in a collapsed position, a top member hingedly mounted to said frame and superposed on said work surface of said frame, said top being arranged to be folded over said base when said frame is in said extended position, said top member having a second work surface which extends from and is at the same elevation as said first-mentioned Work surface when said frame is in said extended position, means extending upwardly from said base for supporting said top when it is folded over said base, said last mentioned support means being positioned on said base substantially above said second side wall, storage means arranged in said base in the space defined by said side walls, front and rear walls, and said work surface, said storage means being accessible from said front wall.

6. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform as in claim 5 wherein said frame is movably supported on said base by a plurality of rollers,

said rollers being cooperatively associated with a pair of guide means,

a first of said guide means extending horizontally along the top portion of said front wall and a second of said guide means extending horizontally along the top portion of said rear wall.

7. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform as in claim 5 wherein said first mentioned support means comprises :a pair of support legs each having the roller journalled in a lowermost portion thereof, said rollers being arranged to movably support said first end of said frame.

8. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform as in claim 7 wherein cut-outs are provided in the lowermost portion of said first side wall for receiving said rollers when said frame is in said collapsed position.

9. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform as in claim 5 wherein said last mentioned support means includes upwardly extending portions of said second side wall.

10. A collapsible, combination cabinet and work platform comprising a base having a laterally extendible frame mounted thereon, said frame being supported at one end by downwardly extending support means and at the other end by said base, a top mounted on said frame, said top having two portions hingedly connected together, one of said top portions being arranged to be superposed on the other of said top portions when said frame is in a collapsed position and to be folded over said base when said frame is in an extended position thereby providing a laterally extendible substantially continuous work surface, said frame when extended defining a kneehole, means extending upwardly from said base for supporting said top when it is folded over said base, said downwardly extending support means including roller means at the lowermost portion thereof, said roller means being arranged to movably support said one end of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,771 6/ 1926 Richardson 312-201 2,547,641 4/1951 Henderson 31225l X 2,790,695 4/1957 Marino 312--317 3,313,584- 4/1967 Rocker 31220l FOREIGN PATENTS 727,243 3/1955 Great Britain.

JAMES T MCCALL, Primary Examiner.